A Sweet and Simple Nikaah

Sa‘eed bin Musayyab (rahimahullah) was an illustrious Taabi‘ee who was the son-in-law and student of Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu).

Abu Wadaa‘ah (rahimahullah) narrates the following:

I would regularly sit in the gathering of Sa‘eed bin Musayyab (rahimahullah). However, there was once a period during which I remained absent for a few days. On my return, Sa‘eed bin Musayyab (rahimahullah) asked me, “Where were you?” I replied, “My wife passed away and I was thus preoccupied (with the funeral).” Hearing that my wife had passed away, Sa‘eed bin Musayyab (rahimahullah) exclaimed, “Why did you not inform me of her demise so that I could have attended the funeral!”

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Rules of a Muslim Home (#16) – Sleeping Early

Among the important rules of a Muslim home is that all members of the house sleep early. Thus, the entire family should retire to bed after performing the ‘Esha Salaah. There are great physical as well as spiritual benefits in this. In order to maintain one’s health, one must enjoy sound sleep. Many illnesses are related to the lack of sleep or the lack of good sleeping habits. The Mashaayikh generally advise that a person get at least six hours of sound sleep daily. One cannot function efficiently without having sufficient sleep.

Allah Ta‘ala mentions in Surah Rum:

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Tahneek

Among the teachings of Islam is that one carry out the tahneek of the newborn child.

Tahneek is for one to soften a date (or any other sweet food) by chewing it until it becomes a paste (so that it is easy for the child to swallow) and to thereafter place it in the mouth of the newborn child. It is preferable that the one carrying out the tahneek be a pious person. There are many ahaadeeth which mention Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) performing tahneek for the children of the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum).

The primary reason for one to carry out the tahneek is that it is the teaching of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). Nevertheless, the practice of tahneek contains numerous physical and health benefits as well.

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Coconut Steak Curry

Clean and cut 500g of tenderized steak into pieces.

Drizzle some lemon juice over the steak.

Soften one chopped onion in oil.

Braise with the onion:

1 tsp crushed garlic

1 tsp ginger garlic

1 cinnamon stick

2 elachi

Add: 

1 tsp salt

1 tsp red chilli paste

½ tsp chilli powder

1 tsp dhana jeero

½ tsp turmeric

½ tsp black pepper powder

Add steak and braise. Slit and add 2 green chillies.

Cook till tender.

Add 1 can of coconut milk. Simmer till thickened.

Serve with rice or roti.

Butterscotch Date Roll

A delicious (and easy) alternative to a traditional Swiss roll.

Place 150g chopped dates, ¾ cup boiling water and 1 tsp bicarb in your liquidizer.

Let it stand for 5 minutes.

Add 60g butter and 160 ml brown sugar. Process.

Add 2 large eggs, ¾ cup flour and 1 ½ tsp baking powder. Process.

Stir in 50g chopped pecan nuts.

Line a 25 by 30 cm baking sheet with baking paper.

Spread your batter evenly in the tray.

Bake on 180 degrees celcius for 15-20 minutes.

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